OTTAWA — When Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned in September 2011 that “Islamist terrorism” is the greatest threat facing Canada, it generated headlines across the country.

It seems Canadians weren’t the only ones who took notice — newly released documents show the comments also stoked international anger.

In fact, the reaction was so strong that Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird was forced to back-pedal during a meeting with one of the Muslim world’s most important leaders last year.

NDP foreign affairs critic Paul Dewar said the incident should serve as a warning to the Conservatives to be more careful with their words in the future.

“It’s about responsible diplomacy,” Dewar said. “Particularly when we’re trying to work with moderates in North Africa and the Middle East.”

“When you’re making these comments, you’re speaking to the whole world, including people you’re trying to work with,” he said. “I hope there’s more caution and carefulness taken when we’re talking about global threats and that we don’t just use language that frankly is irresponsible.”

Harper’s comments were made on the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, in which he told the CBC the “major threat” to Canada is “Islamicism.”

“When people think of Islamic terrorism, they think of Afghanistan and maybe of some place in the Middle East,” Harper said. “But the truth is, that threat exists all over the world.”

The comments prompted immediate condemnation from analysts and Muslim groups in Canada, who accused the Harper Conservatives of bigotry and vilifying Islam and all those who practice the religion.

Those sentiments were apparently shared by Muslim countries as well.

In February 2012, Baird travelled to Tunisia to attend an international conference on Syria.

One of his meetings on the sidelines of that summit was with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Co-operation.

The OIC consists of 57 Muslim countries and purports to stand for the interests of and present a single voice for the Muslim world.

A note prepared for the meeting warned Baird that Ihsanoglu would likely raise the prime minister’s comments, which “were misconstrued in the region (the Middle East and North Africa).”

If the comments did come up, Baird was advised to downplay them.

“By Islamist extremists, we mean those who distort the name of a religion to advance their political objectives through violence,” Baird was to say.

“Canada does not equate Islamist extremism with Islam the religion,” Baird was to add.

“Canada also recognizes that Islamist extremism is not the only terrorist threat to Canada and that Canada is not the only country being targeted by would-be terrorists.”

Baird was to conclude by saying that Canada was working with communities in Canada and partners around the world, including some OIC countries, to prevent and counter terrorist threats.

It’s not the first time Canada’s relationship with the Muslim world has been strained: the Harper government’s support for Israel was seen as a prime reason Muslim countries refused to support Canada’s UN Security Council bid in 2010.

The Harper government also has been accused of ignoring mainstream Muslim communities, or excluding them from federal government activities such as consultation in the lead-up to establishing a new Office of Religious Freedoms.

Amin Elshorbagy, national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress, said that has resulted in concern among Muslims in Canada, as well as changes in how Canada is viewed abroad.

“I can tell you that people’s feelings in Muslim countries towards Canada have started to be cautious because Canada chooses now to take certain stands and positions on the international platform that are quite different from the traditional Canadian principles,” he said. “So of course that is noticed.”

It appears that while the Harper government continues to talk about the threat posed by terrorism, it no longer refers specifically to Islamic terrorism.